Study of structural, vibrational, elastic and magnetic properties of uniaxial anisotropic Ni-Zn nanoferrites in the context of cation distribution and magnetocrystalline anisotropy

•The Gibb’s free energy may be the favourable factor for the cation redistribution in the spinel structure.•The ferrite nanoparticles in different ranges are affecting the elastic behaviour of present ferrite systems.•Core – shell morphology and Neel’s sub lattice phenomenon are probing the magnetic behaviour.•The present ferrite nanoparticles are under influence of spin-glassy frustrations even at liquid nitrogen temperatures.•The curvy nature of field cooling FC graph at very low temperature provides the prediction of high magnetocrystalline anisotropy.